Seminary to hold Annual Reunion Luncheon – March 10

New alumni board members will be named and alumni awards will be presented

Bethlehem, Pa., March 3, 2006— Moravian Theological Seminary will hold its 2006 Alumni Reunion Luncheon on Friday, March 10. In addition to lunch and fellowship, various activities other activities are planned, including the recognition of the 25th and 50th Reunion Classes, the election of new alumni board members, and the presentation of the John Hus and Bishop Kortz Pastoral Counseling Alumni Awards.

Rev. Richard L. Sides ’75 has been selected to receive the John Hus Alumni Award for his ministry as a creative and inspirational leader of the Moravian Church and community. Bethlehem counselor, Rev. Dr. Janice Young ’91, has been chosen by her fellow Moravian Theological Seminary alumni to receive the Bishop Kortz Pastoral Counseling Award for her excellent work as a pastoral counselor.

The festivities will begin with the reunion reception at 11:30 a.m. at the Haupert Union Building Lounge at Moravian College. Following lunch, the schedule of events is as follows: annual meeting of the Alumni/ae Association, introduction of MTS seniors, recognition of the 25th and 50th Reunion Classes, recognition of retiring Alumni Association Board of Governors members, election of new Alumni Board members, and presentation of the Bishop Kortz and John Hus Awards.

Alumni will be electing a slate of five candidates to the board, including incumbents Mark Herr ‘79 and Gordon Sommers ’61. Other nominees include Bruce Bowen ’01, ’03; Greg Krausz ’02; and Helen Pearson ’93, ’97.

Herr is a professional musician from Denver, Pa. He serves as director of music at Highlands Retirement Community in Wyomissing, Pa. and as an adjunct professor of music and philosophy at Reading Area Community College. He has served as assistant pastor for three churches in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Bethlehem native Sommers continued his theological studies after MTS to include a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary. From 1959 through 1971, he served various tours as a missionary to Nicaragua and Guyana before returning to be a pastor to two Moravian congregations in the United States. He has also been president of the Provincial Elders Conference, Moravian Church, Northern Province and president and immediate past president of the National Council of Churches. The Allentown Morning Call named him one of five notable religious leaders of the 20th century. Sommers is the 2000 recipient of the John Hus Award and a past Trustee of MTS. He is currently the interim pastor at West Side Moravian Church.

Bowen is a licensed professional counselor and certified addictions counselor diplomate. He serves as partner for High Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, director of outpatient services at Keystone Center in Chester, Pa., and partner in Monocacy Counseling Services in Bethlehem. He will co-present at the 2006 PA Certification Board Conference and 2006 MTS Fall Pastoral Counseling Retreat. Bowen resides in Bethlehem.

Krausz is also a certified addictions counselor diplomate and licensed professional counselor. Before coming to Moravian Theological Seminary, he earned a specialized diploma in chemical dependency counseling from Northampton Community College. He now serves as director of clinical services for KeyStone Center in Chester, Pa. and biblical counselor at First Baptist Church in Bethlehem, where he resides.

Easton resident Pearson earned both Master of Pastoral Counseling and Master of Divinity degrees from the seminary. She has served as assistant pastor at both St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Trexlertown, Pa. and St. John’s United Church of Christ in Williams Township, Pa. She is currently chaplain at the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice in Easton Hospital, which she also serves as a member of the community relations committee.

Members of the Alumni/ae Association of Governors serve three year terms. Terms are staggered, with roughly a third of the seats up for election each year.